Feb 06, Colombo: Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksa has instructed the Inspector General of Police to take maximum measures to crackdown on narcotics trade in the country.

President Rajapaksa at a meeting held at the Temple Trees Wednesday with law enforcement officials and other relevant stakeholders gave instructions to initiate a special national programme to crackdown on narcotics trade and take stern action against drug peddlers near schools. A special committee will be appointed to plan the programme.

The meeting mainly focused on the entry of narcotics into the country and the addiction of school children to various types of drugs and a committee will be appointed for this purpose.

The President instructed the officials to use the most modern technology for customs examinations to prevent narcotics being smuggled into the country and called for conducting sudden raids.

He instructed the officials to strictly enforce the law against traders selling drugs such as Babul and also synthetic drugs near the schools and be vigilant on strangers loitering near schools.

A decision was taken to strengthen Civil Defence Forces and encourage community participation in the combat against the drug menace.

He also instructed the officials to rehabilitate the drug addicts. A decision was taken to implement an expeditious programme to rehabilitate the people who have been sentenced over the drug related cases.

Over 92,000 drug addicts and 82,000 smokers have been redeemed from their practices as a result of the programme conducted by the government since 2005.

Prime Minister D.M. Jayaratne, Ministers Maithripala Sirisena, Basil Rajapaksa, Tissa Karaliyadde and Chandrasiri Gajadeera and Secretary to the Ministry of Defence and Urban Development Gotabhaya Rajapaksa also participated in the discussion.